MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Audio / Security / Electrical => Topic started by: Suzz381 on May 12, 2014, 22:15

Title: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Suzz381 on May 12, 2014, 22:15
I'm a bit of a gadget nerd and fancy buying a dash cam to protect against accident claims etc.
Been looking at rear view mirrors which double up as a cam.
Just wondering if anyone has fitted one to an MR2/what the quality is like?
The mirrors I've looked at on amazon etc are 30cms long which I think wld be way to long for mr2 and prob stop the sun visors being lowered.
Plus I'll be able to film the approach to ding day   s:bounce: :bounce: s:bounce:
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: StuC on May 12, 2014, 22:43
The question if ask you here Suzz is...
How much do you actually use your sunvisors? They are pretty small and most find that they are never in the right place. Besides that's what sunglasses are for.  s;-) ;-) s;-)
ROC even have some blanking plugs for those that elect to remove the sunvisors.

How do the mirror cams you have found so far attach to the car?
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Suzz381 on May 12, 2014, 23:24
Aye fair point stu! Good excuse to buy some new shades  s;-) ;-) s;-)
The one I'm looking at has clips which clip over the current mirror in car. Therefore even I cold install it!
However, I think it'll look far too big for the cabin but can't seem to find a good quality cam for a reasonable price that is also smaller

Looking at ones similar to this:

 m http://dashboardcamerareviews.com/abeo- ... hdvr-180c/ (http://dashboardcamerareviews.com/abeo-hdvr-180-and-hdvr-180c/) m
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: StuC on May 13, 2014, 00:01
I like how you have instant playback on a small screen within the mirror. It's like driving the car in a video game, but with real world consequences!!  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

I am sure there are small discreet cameras up to the job. Much like the cyclists and bikers wear.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: loadswine on May 13, 2014, 07:12
The best camera that I have seen for the money and image quality is the Mobius camera, costs about £60 basic and proper HD 1080p. Compact, the size of a matchbox. i have one installed in my car and it works well. ( okay, that's not a Roadster, but its small enough to fit easily.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Suzz381 on May 13, 2014, 08:52
Ha Stu, like a real life grand theft auto without the hi jacks!
Loadswine that cam looks tiny! Going to do some further research into it but certainly looks a contender. Thanks for the reply  :-) :-) :-)
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: tricky1138 on May 13, 2014, 13:36
Quote from: "loadswine"The best camera that I have seen for the money and image quality is the Mobius camera, costs about £60 basic and proper HD 1080p. Compact, the size of a matchbox. i have one installed in my car and it works well. ( okay, that's not a Roadster, but its small enough to fit easily.

Liking the look of that one too. Nice and discreet.

I'm after something similar but was wanting a dual camera setup. Anyone have any recommendations for that?
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: shnazzle on May 13, 2014, 14:30
I've just ordered an eBay special  s:) :) s:)  see how it goes
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: loadswine on May 13, 2014, 16:40
Just one quick pic of my cam. Its mounted under the housing of a bank of sensors for auto wipers, lights, lane assist and stuff.

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7303/14152684015_eba64ebbd5_c.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/loadswine/14152684015/)
P5104194 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/loadswine/14152684015/) by loadswine (https://www.flickr.com/people/loadswine/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Suzz381 on May 13, 2014, 20:10
Very neat, does it have to be hard wired or can it run off a battery? Also is it easy to transfer footage onto computer?
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Suzz381 on May 13, 2014, 20:11
Quote from: "shnazzle"I've just ordered an eBay special  s:) :) s:)  see how it goes
Let us know how u get on  :-) :-) :-)
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: loadswine on May 13, 2014, 20:18
It can be hard wired if you want, but mine runs from a usb/charging socket hub that I popped in last week. It will run on the battery for a couple of hours I think. It uses a micro Sd card, so file transfer is dead easy.
My bits came from a site joovuu.com. They have all sorts of bits for this, including wider angle lens version. Youtube has some good reviews of the cam. Techmoan is pretty reliable for a reviewer, should be easy enough to search on there.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Anonymous on May 13, 2014, 20:27
I use mine in the car and my truck, not too intrusive and good quality playback, I can't recomend it though as they changed suppliers and although the cameras look the same they are absolute rubbish   s:roll: :roll: s:roll:  

Not in the way.......... (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15402575/2014-05-13%2019.13.56.jpg)

[youtube:3bmuaia5]grgS-BHVGxg[/youtube:3bmuaia5]
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Suzz381 on May 13, 2014, 20:58
Quote from: "loadswine"It can be hard wired if you want, but mine runs from a usb/charging socket hub that I popped in last week. It will run on the battery for a couple of hours I think. It uses a micro Sd card, so file transfer is dead easy.
My bits came from a site joovuu.com. They have all sorts of bits for this, including wider angle lens version. Youtube has some good reviews of the cam. Techmoan is pretty reliable for a reviewer, should be easy enough to search on there.

Perfect, this is certainly shaping up as the number one contender at present.
Good quality vid les
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: loadswine on May 13, 2014, 21:18
Cool, I'll see if I can pop up a short clip from it tomorrow, if it helps.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Suzz381 on May 13, 2014, 21:19
Quote from: "loadswine"Cool, I'll see if I can pop up a short clip from it tomorrow, if it helps.

Yes pls   s:bowdown: :bowdown: s:bowdown:
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: loadswine on May 16, 2014, 19:49
[youtube:3olqb1by]a2yS44z3EY8[/youtube:3olqb1by]

Just a little clip at only 720p, but you should get the idea. Also still trying to beat the reflection from the top of the dash.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Wabbitkilla on May 16, 2014, 20:05
Lovely quality Nigel
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: AndyM on May 16, 2014, 21:19
Looks good Nige. Almost tempted myself  s:) :) s:)
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Suzz381 on May 19, 2014, 12:57
great quality!
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Suzz381 on May 19, 2014, 13:33
Just ordered this little number from fleabay

 m http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261460004892 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261460004892) m

Only £23 so not a lot lost if no good. Will post here once it arrives and I have it installed
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Ripley on May 19, 2014, 19:56
We got one of these from Amazon last week. Great picture quality and easy to use. My question is, has anyone hard wired one of these cams (or anything for that matter) to the interior light? It seems the easiest place to take power from.

 m http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00I ... UTF8&psc=1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IJVYZL2/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) m
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: loadswine on May 19, 2014, 21:31
Mine is semi hard wired to an ignition live in my car. When I turn the ignition on, it starts recording and turns off when I turn the engine off. I have the Mobius running to a little USB hub, that I wired in. It has worked really well over the last few days of my Euro trip down to the Dordogne region of France. Captured some super footage so far.  s:) :) s:)
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Ripley on May 19, 2014, 21:56
Quote from: "loadswine"Mine is semi hard wired to an ignition live in my car. When I turn the ignition on, it starts recording and turns off when I turn the engine off. I have the Mobius running to a little USB hub, that I wired in. It has worked really well over the last few days of my Euro trip down to the Dordogne region of France. Captured some super footage so far.  s:) :) s:)

Sounds like a good solution. Where did you wire it too?
One option would be to conceal the wires along the windscreen and down the pillars. I don't want to take the pillar trim off as I believe it's a bummer to put back. Any info much appreciated, thanks
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Suzz381 on June 5, 2014, 11:17
Ok, mixed feelings re the cam I bought.
Footage is good. However, as I initially feared I think it's too big for the cabin. It also shakes about loads - so much I took it off.
It's a good concept but needs to be refined so that it replaces your rear view mirror and isn't just a clip on.
Will bring it to ding day on sat and show u  :-) :-) :-)
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: loadswine on June 5, 2014, 11:20
I will have mine at ding day as well and should have my laptop to show full res footage if anyone is interested. i should be easy to spot with my name badge and the car will be dead easy, parked by the bins with water as part of the registration.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Wabbitkilla on June 5, 2014, 11:23
I bought a mobius but found it wouldn't talk to any of my PC's, none of them recognise the usb device.
I love their instructions "rebuild the PC", hey if it doesn't work on 2 W7 and 1 W8 machines, it ain't going to work on anything imho!

So I've returned it for a replacement, hopefully that one actually works.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Jrichards20 on June 5, 2014, 11:25
I have a GoPro, its fiddly if you want to record for every journey, as you do want to take it out of the car when your not in there. But for quality, it is unbelievable!!!
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: loadswine on June 5, 2014, 11:27
A faulty one I guess Nic, never had an issue with mine on W7 machines, desktop or laptop. Presumably you downloaded the interface utility?
Mine is super easy to remove also. Probably not quite the image quality of a GoPro, but excellent considering the cost.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Anonymous on June 5, 2014, 11:44
Quote from: "Jrichards20"I have a GoPro, its fiddly if you want to record for every journey, as you do want to take it out of the car when your not in there. But for quality, it is unbelievable!!!
I know what you mean but there is a one touch operation setting in menu; basically power up and it starts recording

You wouldn't leave it on show in the car that's for sure.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Jrichards20 on June 5, 2014, 12:23
oh I didnt know about that! Thats the thing about the camera, its farr to advanced for anything I will ever do, so many things that can be done that I will never find out about  s:) :) s:)  

Dont suppose you know a good way to fully record an 8 hour drive? I dont want to time lapse, or loop to only keep 20minutes of recording. Just wondering whether there was a way to transfer a two hour file using the phone app to email so you didnt use up the memory?
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Anonymous on June 5, 2014, 12:38
Not as far as I am aware. It will need a big memory card! (Setting dependant)

It splits the recordings into 2GB files which makes handling them a lot easier ... If that is of any help to you?
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Wabbitkilla on June 5, 2014, 12:49
Quote from: "loadswine"A faulty one I guess Nic, never had an issue with mine on W7 machines, desktop or laptop. Presumably you downloaded the interface utility?
Mine is super easy to remove also. Probably not quite the image quality of a GoPro, but excellent considering the cost.

Yeah the setup utility is also bad as it's just an exe and relies on the camera already being recognised on usb.
If they just provided a driver I reckon it would solve things ... but it could just have been a duff one.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: loadswine on June 5, 2014, 18:19
If you have it with you tomorrow, we can try it on my laptop if you like.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Jrichards20 on June 5, 2014, 19:31
Quote from: "Meeerrrk"Not as far as I am aware. It will need a big memory card! (Setting dependant)

It splits the recordings into 2GB files which makes handling them a lot easier ... If that is of any help to you?

How do I get it to do that? That will probably work.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: 2 of the left on June 5, 2014, 20:47
 s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  I got myself a cheapo HD DVR (Portable) from that well known auction site (£26) Mains / Batt operable - It has a 32 Gb card fitted ( Bought separately) and has recycling recording inbuilt ( Day and Night operation!) It can be attached to windscreen behind rear view mirror
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Anonymous on June 5, 2014, 21:51
Quote from: "Jrichards20"
Quote from: "Meeerrrk"Not as far as I am aware. It will need a big memory card! (Setting dependant)

It splits the recordings into 2GB files which makes handling them a lot easier ... If that is of any help to you?

How do I get it to do that? That will probably work.

As far as I am aware it does it automatically, when you look at the files on the memory card they are split up so no single file is larger than 2GB.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: Mollydog on June 11, 2014, 07:17
for my other two cars I have the blackvue DR500GW for one and a no name Chinese in the other, the blackvue was around £270 and the no name one was about £40


the blackvue was rubbish and their after. sales customer care was non existent, and won't be recommending them to anyone, but thank goodness on one of the DVR forums I belong to a Russian guy did a software upgrade for the DR500GW that now is true 1080 HD, here is a clip I too in France last year

I have mine hot wired in to the car so no wires are seen and just about the bit leading to the DVR might be visible looking up from inside the car, but nothing leading to the cigarette lighter


 m http://youtu.be/qszEn8X-WW0 (http://youtu.be/qszEn8X-WW0) m


if I was asked to recommend one now, I hear the mini 8081 for the price of around £55 has very good image quality 1080HD  and for around £15 you can have it with GPS too and it's no bigger than a box of matches, they are brining out the mini 8083 any time now that has a better chip inside for better night vision,

if you want to have/use something to record accident/other bad drivers in your car, I would suggest in getting a DVR camera as they are made for the job, wide angle view so you get to see both wings, start up switch off with your ignition (if you cigarette light works that way) and loops the recording so only the oldest recording gets wiped,and a32gig care should be good for around 7 to 8 hours recording, and they can also be set to record if they detect movement  when you leave it in a car park
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: shnazzle on June 17, 2014, 10:22
I can't decide between the Mini 0803 and the Mobius!!
The 0803 looks brilliant, it's tiny, and has a screen which makes it very user-friendly really.

The mobius on the other hand seems to be a bit of a standard.
Title: Re: Anyone got a dash cam/rear view mirror cam fitted?
Post by: shnazzle on June 12, 2017, 23:04
Reviving this as I've now gone through two. Mobius cameras.

When dead, one just blinked and never recorded and the latest one pretends to record and creates files but they're corrupted. Tried live feed, nothing. Tried as webcam with no sd card, nothing.

As much as the picture quality, size and inconspicuous nature was amazing on the mobius, I'm less tempted to buy another one.
Granted 60 quid every 2 years isn't horrible....

Any recommendations for new hot tech?
Surely the mobius must now be quite outdated and have lower quality images compared to what's out now.

Looking for discreet camera body and great quality video.
The former I can compromise on.
Not fussed about screen. Either is fine.